Ilham Al Madfai and Khyam Allami

Iraq's best-known exiled popular musician, Ilham Al Madfai, has become a hero in his homeland for his mix of stirring, sad-edged traditional and self-penned songs backed with Middle Eastern instrumentation and a Western-influenced rhythm section. His shows often develop into frantic dance parties, but this performance was different. He was not only appearing in the more staid setting of a late-night Prom, but was performing alongside a very different musician, the London-based 'ud player Khyam Allami, whom he has been mentoring as part of Radio 3's World Routes Academy scheme. The result was an uneven show that favoured the newcomer.

The concert was opened by Al Madfai backed by his full band, perching on a stool to demonstrate his flamenco-influenced guitar-work before launching into a couple of his rousing songs, starting with the typically affecting Khuttar. He was backed by 'ud, ney flute and the zither-like qanun, along with electric bass, four percussionists and massed handclaps from the delighted, predominantly Iraqi crowd.

It seemed he was heading for a typically furious performance, but suddenly the mood changed. Al Madfai gave way to Allami, who was backed by just one percussionist for a delicate demonstration of his 'ud playing on a series of Iraqi maqams – semi-improvised pieces that involved drifting passages and sections of frantic strumming.

Then Al Madfai returned, and Allami now showed his skill as an accompanist on a brief acoustic collaboration that included an emotional love song to Baghdad. The show ended with Al Madfai reunited with his band for more rousing favourites, while the crowd sang along or waved Iraqi flags. It was an entertaining, if oddly programmed show, but it was difficult to see what the World Routes Academy mentoring scheme has achieved, apart from a couple of duets.